William Koch

Oxbow Carbon Corp

• William “Bill” Koch, brother of Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch, is the founder of petroleum coke and sulphur products company Oxbow Carbon Corp.
• The Kansas native formed his own company after selling his stake in Koch Industries to brothers Charles and David (d. 2019) for $470 million in 1983.
• Net worth: $1.6 billion
• He battled his brothers for more than a decade over the payout amount. He prevailed in 2000, but the case was settled before a penalty could be enforced.
• William’s brother Frederick also sold his stake in Koch Industries to Charles and David in 1983.
• Koch Industries was started in 1940 by William Koch’s father, Fred Koch, who improved a method of refining heavy oil into gasoline.